After back-to-back overtime games, the U15 Heidelberg Materials Kings punched their ticket to the All Ontario Championships with a 3-0 win over the Loyalist Jets.

A night after suffering a 1-0 double overtime loss in Amherstview that extended the series to a third and deciding game, goaltender Ben Kelly came up big for the locals.

Mr. Kelly turned aside every shot sent his way in Game 3. In 100 minutes of hockey over Games 2 and 3, the Consecon native gave up exactly one goal.

“We figured it was going to be a great game especially after coming so close in Game 2,” Kings skipper Brad Quaiff said afterwards.

The Kings had some simple messages on their white board in the dressing room before the game: ‘Keep Going’ and ‘Trust’.

“‘Trust’ was about how we’ve built that trust over an entire season, knowing that your teammates are all going to step up and bring their best game to the rink each and every night,” the coach explained.

Territorially, the Kings pressed for long stretches of the game and kept the Jets pinned in their own end with puck wizardry, good forechecking and heads-up passing. The Kings’ defence is to be commended for quick passing and spawning several good rush chances.

The club had great looks at the Loyalist net early in the game, including a three-way passing play that delighted the 400-plus fans in attendance at Lehigh Arena. But the netminding by Jets goalie Jack Murphy kept the Kings off the scoresheet in the opening stanza.

In the second, the locals were staring at a lengthy dry spell on offence. A stretch of 81:08 of futile hockey was finally broken at 4:12. After coming close a couple of times, the Kings hit pay dirt when Ryker Ivanic’s shot from the half wall was tipped on the way to the net by Will Prinzen.

It was bedlam at Lehigh. The goal probably felt like ten tallies for the Kings, who had been offensively frustrated since Game 1.

“We were all a little deflated after last night but we knew if we brought that same drive and passion we had in Game 2 into Game 3, we’d be ok,” Mr. Quaiff said.

“It was good to get that goal and especially for Willy. He’s used to scoring those kinds of goals in big moments,” the coach added.

The Jets had their moments in the third to storm back. Loyalist thought they tied the game early in the third — but the net came loose of its moorings just prior to the puck crossing the Kings goal line.

The Kings got the insurance they were seeking at the 5:48 mark. Charlie Burkitt burst down the wing, gained a step on a defender and beat the goalie low to make it 2-0.

“Charlie’s been such a great addition to the team this year,” Coach Quaiff added. “In intermission, we were begging him to take charge, use his speed and get us the big insurance goal. He didn’t disappoint.”

With just under two minutes left, the Kings sealed the deal with an empty netter. Weston Kingsley sent his second goal of the series into a vacated Loyalist vestibule at 1:53 to make it a 3-0 final.

Captain Nathan Howe picked up an assist.

The Kings are off to the OMHA Championships in Halton Hills Easter Weekend. Go Kings Go!